On November 24, 2017, Henry Emmanuel Austin, a native of the Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland passed away in New York City at the age of 82 due to complications related to pancreatic cancer. The twelfth of thirteen children, Henry was born to the late Eugene Austin and Anne Higgins Austin on January 18, 1935. After immigrating to New York in1955, he served in the United States Army, then became a teacher and later an entrepreneur and real estate investor. In 1970, Henry married Margaret Faughnan, his wife of nearly 48 years, and together they had five children, Emmet, Natasha, Nicolle, Margaret “Megan” (m. Peter Karlen) and Ashley (m. Gabriel Jostrom), and eight grandchildren, Sienna, Alastríona, Oscar, Henry “Huck”, Aislinn Mary, Pearse, Layla and Aveline. Education was extremely important to Henry, who was incredibly proud of his children’s academic and athletic accomplishments. He took great joy in cheering them on as they played soccer and lacrosse at Exeter, Andover, Eton, Harvard, Princeton and Columbia. Henry’s other great joys in life were traveling with his wife, Margaret, playing with his grandchildren and caring for his gardens at his homes in Douglas Manor, Laurel Hollow and Southampton.
Henry was a true gentleman who had a great sense of humor and was full of life. We will always remember his warm Irish brogue and the twinkle in his eye. We are blessed to have had him in our lives and his spirit will live on in all those who had the great privilege of knowing him. In addition to his loving wife, children and grandchildren, Henry is survived by his brother Larry Austin, his sisters Elizabeth “Lily” Dignan and Colette Austin, and hundreds of extended relatives and friends who will miss him dearly. Henry is predeceased by his parents and his nine brothers and sisters. Heaven has gained the most wonderful soul and the angels are rejoicing. Beannacht leat go bhfeicfidh mé arís thú (Until we meet again).
A wake will be held on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 from 4:30pm to 8:30pm at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel, 1076 Madison Avenue, Manhattan. A Catholic Mass will be held on Thursday, November 30, at 1:30pm at the Church of St. Thomas More, 65 East 89th Street, Manhattan, followed by a reception celebrating Henry’s life.
Donations may be made in Henry’s memory to the Lustgarten Foundation, whose mission is to advance the scientific and medical research related to the diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of pancreatic cancer.
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